'Xanthic acid' definitions:

Definition of 'xanthic acid'

noun

Any of a class of unstable organic acids containing sulphur

From: GCIDE

Xanthic \Xan"thic\, a. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow: cf. F. xanthique.] [1913 Webster]
1. Tending toward a yellow color, or to one of those colors, green being excepted, in which yellow is a constituent, as scarlet, orange, etc. [1913 Webster]
2. (Chem.) (a) Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow color; as, xanthic acid. (b) Of or pertaining to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic. (c) Of or pertaining to xanthin. [1913 Webster]
Xanthic acid (Chem.), a heavy, astringent, colorless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid.
Xanthic colors (Bot.), those colors (of flowers) having some tinge of yellow; -- opposed to cyanic colors. See under Cyanic. [1913 Webster]